HobbyBoss 1/48 scale British Challenger II MBT plastic model kit review

The third vehicle to hold the name, the Challenger 2 main battle tank first entered operational service with the British in 1998. Designed by Vickers and built by Alvis, Vickers, and BAE, more than 400 have been built and are used by the United Kingdom, Oman, and Ukraine.

The all-new HobbyBoss 1/48 scale British Challenger II MBT plastic model kit comes in a sturdy box with great cover art depicting the tank in a Northern European camouflage scheme. The kit builds into a tank on a training mission, with a prominent flashing orange light on top as well as rearview mirrors. I suspect the mirrors and flashing light would come off the moment a real engagement became imminent.

The plastic is molded in desert tan with no hint of sink marks, and any ejector-pin marks are hidden as the build progresses. The instructions consist of 20 easy-to-follow steps. I started by painting the road wheels. The wheels each sandwiched a poly cap that allowed them to easily slide onto the hull later in the build.

After completing the wheels, I set them aside and built both the upper and lower hull. Part fits were excellent, and every part had a clear attachment point with the exception the pesky bar (Part E5) in front of the running lights. I then painted the hull parts flat black followed with the camouflage pattern of NATO Black and Mr. Color 303 Light Green.

The link-and-length tracks fit well. With the running gear in place and the glue dry, I attached the upper hull to the lower hull without difficulty.

The turret uses poly caps to allow the gun barrel to travel vertically. I struggled with the multi-part gun barrel, but the parts aligned well, and they needed virtually no cleanup. Just take it slow and study the instructions to see you through.

HobbyBoss did an exceptional job rendering the antislip texture on the upper turret and hull surfaces. I do miss having figures, but I attached the hatches with white glue in case I find some 1/48 scale modern British tankers needing a home.

Finally, I completed the painting, applied the decals, and did a bit of weathering. I highlighted the lights and fire extinguishers and attached the rearview mirrors as my last step.

HobbyBoss re-entered the 1/48 scale armor market recently, and the 1/48 scale British Challenger II MBT plastic model kit is a great addition to its fleet. With a modest parts count, this kit would be ideal for a beginner looking to try building armor models. With just a two-color paint scheme, it’s a bit more work than a monotone tank, but not overwhelmingly so.

Photos by Kyle Nelson